Research & Development
As a global pharmaceutical company, the discovery and development of innovative medicines is fundamental to our continued growth and success. Our blueprint for innovation is tailored to accelerate the delivery of breakthrough medicines to the patients we serve by integrating research, pre-clinical and early clinical development, translational medicine and external partnering functions. This fusion of expertise combined with a dynamic research approach and an increased emphasis on external collaborations means we can effectively incubate the most creative ideas and be among the pioneers in emerging fields of medicine.
How We Discover
From Curiosity to Discovery
From initial discovery to a marketable medicine is a long, challenging road. It takes about 12 - 15 years from discovery to the approved medication and requires an investment of about US $1 billion. On average, from more than a million screened molecules only one is investigated in late-stage clinical trials and is finally made available for patients.
The Drug Discovery & Development Process
Research is the key to innovation: to achieve the goal of a healthier future, Boehringer Ingelheim researches and develops new medicines. There is a long way to go until patients can benefit from our new products. Did you know that the necessary steps from research to approval might take up to twelve years? Take a look at how we research and develop new medicines.
Overview of the process steps
Research
- Target identification and validation
- Assay development
- Lead identification
- Lead optimisation
- Pre-development
Development
- Preclinical development
- Clinical research phase I to phase III
Registration
- Regulatory approval
- Phase IV (Life cycle management)